Our Vineyards
Due to our world-class viticultural location and unusually spacious acreage with highly diverse terroir, Windsor Oaks represents a rarity in wine country. It is a wine lover's dream, where both viticultural and winemaking experts worked together over many years, sparing no expense to create vineyards producing the best quality fruit. Our estate vineyards located within three of California's most famous wine appellations; Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast and Chalk Hill.
Years of careful work analyzing over 700 acres, pinpointed 250 acres where specific types of wine grapes best fit with some of the finest micro-climates and soils for growing ultra-premium grapes in Sonoma County. Each type of grape, and the specific rootstocks and clones within them, were selected for over 50 distinct vineyard blocks nestled throughout the steep hills, high terraces and low valleys.
Learn more about the 18 varietals we grow>
Beyond the well-located vineyard blocks, significant areas of our property have been designated as 'Forever Wild', offering Conservation Easements with the Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District of Sonoma County to protect these areas in perpetuity as untouched open space. Our Forever Wild acreage features a rich collection of at least seven types of native oak trees, meadows filled with wildflowers, canyons and a multitude of wildlife. The mix of carefully planted vineyards combined with the significant acres of beautiful ancient oak trees and wilderness create an inspirational environment.
Grape Purchasing & Inquiries
Acreage and any potential availability of wine grapes differ by type. Please contact Vineyard Operations at 707.433.3810 or email ralph@windsoroaks.com.
Our Appellations
Windsor Oaks Vineyards is situated within three AVA's (American Viticultural Areas) -- Russian River Valley Appellation, Sonoma Coast Appellation and Chalk Hill Appellation. We benefit from all the wonderful characteristics of each of these appellations. From the cool mornings and coastal evening fog of the Russian River AVA in our lower vineyards, to the slightly warmer temperatures of the Chalk Hill AVA in our higher elevations.
Chalk Hill AVA encompasses the northeast corner of the larger Russian River AVA. It was established in June of 1988. It is named for its unique, volcanically-derived, chalky white ash soils which lend themselves to the production of excellent Chardonnay. The upper hills are producing great Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
Russian River Valley AVA, known for producing Burgundian varietals, was originally settled in the early 1800's by Russian immigrants. The first cultivated field crops were wine grapes. The Italian immigrants, drawn to California by the Gold Rush of 1849, took up the torch and much of the growth of the later part of the century was due to their planting. The phylloxera epidemic (1880's through 1900) that decimated the area, damaged the growing region for many years. Ripping out diseased vines and starting over, the vineyards didn't recover in the Russian River Valley appellation until the 1960's. The new varieties that were introduced then are still grown today.
Sonoma Coast AVA currently includes parts of several other AVA's, including Green Valley and Russian River Valley. This is a wide area with some controversy regarding various ideas of proper demarcation of the boundaries. Sonoma Coast is the largest single AVA in Sonoma County. It is characterized by steep, rugged mountains and connecting ridges rising 300 to 700 meters above and running parallel to the ocean. There are soil differences across the area, but there are also soil differences across areas of a single vineyard.
